Please note that the information provided herein is not legal advice and is provided for informational and educational purposes only.   If you need legal advice with respect to making a Will or what to do where a person dies without a Will,  you should seek professional assistance (e.g. make a post on Dynamic Lawyers).  We have Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, Brampton, Mississauga and other Ontario lawyers registered to help you.

So what happens if someone who lives in Ontario dies without a Will?

Please keep in mind that a Power of Attorney and a Living Will have no relevance or bearing at this point because the person is dead (they only apply when the person is alive).

Basically, in Ontario, an application is made in the court office for the area (e.g. county, district, region, or metropolitan municipality) in which the deceased resided at the date of death. In Toronto, the appropriate court is the Estates Court office located at 393 University Avenue, 10th floor, 416-326-4230 (otherwise, you make an application to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice).

Applications for Certificates of Appointment of Estate Trustee are processed by Ministry of the Attorney General court staff.   They perform the duties of an estate registrar in the Civil Office of the Superior Court of Justice. These duties are prescribed by law. Staff must review each application to confirm that the application and all accompanying documents are complete and comply with the Rules of Civil Procedure (the rules of court) and other applicable legislation.

Section 74.05 of those Rules require that an Application for a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee (Form 74.14 or 74.15) be accompanied by:

1. An affidavit (Form 74.16) attesting that notice of the application (Form 74.17) has been served on all persons entitled to share in the distribution of the estate (including special ways to serve minors under 18 years old and mentally incapable persons).
2. A renunciation (Form 74.18) from every person who is entitled in priority to be named as estate trustee and who has not joined in the application;
3. A consent to the applicant’s appointment (Form 74.19) by persons who are entitled to share in the distribution of the estate and who together have a majority interest in the value of the assets of the estate at the date of death;
4. The security required by the Estates Act; and
5. Any other additional material which the court may direct.

You should definitely consult with a lawyer about getting these and other necessary documents properly drafted and filed.  These forms can be found here.

If court staff have concerns about the application or accompanying materials, the application must be referred to a judge for direction. The judge may require further materials to be filed or steps taken by the personal representative in relation to the application.

The Ministry strives to process certificates of appointment of estate trustee with or without a will within 15 days after the application and accompanying materials are complete and judicial direction, if required, has been obtained.

If a Certificate of Appointment of Estate Trustee Without a Will is issued, it will be in Form 74.20 (as per the Rules).

If you want to read more about priorities of beneficiaries in cases where a person dies in Ontario without a Will (thereby triggering the rules in the Succession Law Reform Act), check out my previous blog on that topic.

To avoid headache and delay, be sure to consult with a lawyer about applying for a certificate of appointment of estate trustee.

Related posts:

1. Wills and Estates (Part 2/3) – All About Wills
2. Uncontested Divorce in Ontario
3. Contentious Proceedings in Estates Matters…
4. Toronto Wills and Estates Lawyer (Part 4): International Wills in Ontario